Phlox plant named ‘Verschercru’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Verschercru’ that is characterized by its very dwarf plant habit, its re-blooming habit, its flowers that are purple-pink in color, its strong basal branching, and its partial resistance to powdery mildew.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Plant Patents for plants derived from the same breeding program that is entitled Phlox Plant Named ‘Verscan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,558) and Phlox Plant Named ‘Versde’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,557).

Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar designation: ‘Verschercru’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox paniculata and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Verschercru’. ‘Verschercru’ represents a new herbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.

‘Verschercru’ was discovered by the Inventor as a chance seedling in a trial field in Haarlem, The Netherlands in 2014. The parentage is unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings by the Inventor in 2015 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings, root cuttings, and tissue culture using meristematic tissue has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Verschercru’ as a unique cultivar of Phlox.

-   -   1. ‘Verschercru’ exhibits a very dwarf plant habit.     -   2. ‘Verschercru’ exhibits a re-blooming habit.     -   3. ‘Verschercru’ exhibits flowers that are purple-pink in color.     -   4. ‘Verschercru’ exhibits strong basal branching.     -   5. ‘Verschercru’ exhibits some resistance to powdery mildew.

‘Verschercru’ can be compared to Phlox paniculata cultivars ‘Verscan’ and ‘Versde’. Both are similar to ‘Verschercru’ in having very compact plant habits. ‘Verscan’ differs from ‘Verschercru’ in having bi-color flowers that are red-purple and white in color. ‘Versde’ differs from ‘Verschercru’ in having flowers that are more pink in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited to website listings by Growing Colors, White House Perennials, Elbert's Greenhouse Village, Pahl's Market, The Gentleman's Backyard, Longfellow's Garden Center, Wapsie Pines, Vern Goers Greenhouse, Baker Garden and Gift, Vite Greenhouses, Fieldstone Gardens, and Knollwood Garden Center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Phlox. The photographs were taken of a 2-year-old plant of ‘Verschercru’ as grown in a 23-cm container Haarlem, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 is a view of a plant of ‘Verschercru’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a flower of ‘Verschercru’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Verschercru’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 23-cm containers in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Early July to September in The Netherlands,             re-blooming.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Very dwarf, compact, primarily upright.         -   Height and spread.—Average of 28 cm in height 32 cm in width             as a 2-year-old plant.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—Some resistance to powdery mildew caused             by Erysiphe cichoracearum has been observed when grown under             the same conditions with other cultivars that lacked             resistance.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings, root cuttings, and tissue             culture.         -   Root initiation.—About 30 days in summer.         -   Root development.—Average of 28 weeks from a rooted cutting             to fully develop in a 1.5-liter container. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem quantity.—Average of 8 flowering stems.         -   Stem size.—17 cm in length, 4 mm in diameter.         -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem color.—144B.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous and moderately glossy.         -   Stem aspect.—Held in an average angle of 45° (varying             between 40° and 60°).         -   Internode length.—An average of 1.8 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, main stems grow from the             base. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Narrowly ovate to elliptic.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Truncate.         -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color upper surface 144A, color             lower surface 144B.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire, but very finely serrate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces are very slightly rugose, upper             side very slightly glossy, lower side matte.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 143A, young lower surface;             143B, mature upper surface; NN137A, mature lower surface;             147B.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.2 cm in length and 3 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 20 (10 pairs) per stem.         -   Petioles.—V-shaped, an average of 2.5 mm in height and 4 mm             in width, 144B in color, both surfaces are glabrous. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound terminal panicle.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Freely flowering, individual             flowers lasts about 10 days, 3 to 4 weeks per inflorescence,             inflorescences are continuously produced during the bloom             season.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 9.5 cm in height and             width.         -   Flower fragrance.—Moderate, sweet and pleasant phlox             fragrance.         -   Flower number.—Average of 90 per inflorescence.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.         -   Flower bud.—An average of 1.6 cm in length and up to 4 mm in             diameter, narrow obovate in shape, surface smooth, glabrous             and very slightly glossy, color; 155C, top 77A, immature             tube 145B, immature calyx 145A and tinged 187A.         -   Flower form.—Explanate with tubular base.         -   Flower size.—An average of 3.1 cm in diameter, 2.4 cm in             depth.         -   Petals.—5, rotate and overlapping, self-cleaning, both             surfaces are glabrous, surfaces are glabrous, upper surface             matte, lower surface slightly glossy, petals are fused 65%             into tube, spathulate in shape, margins entire, obtuse to             slightly retuse apex, average of 3.2 cm in length, 1.7 cm in             width, color: when opening upper surface; N79C and 71A, tube             145B to 145C, when opening lower surface; 77A and N81B,             fully open upper side; N79C and 71A and 67A towards the             throat, tube N81B, fully open lower side; 77A and N81B and             occasionally 71A, tube N81B.         -   Sepals.—5, 15% of base fused, rotate, linear in shape,             margins entire, apex narrowly apiculate in shape, an average             of 1 cm in length and 1 mm in width, both surfaces are             glabrous and very slightly glossy, color: immature upper             surface; 144A, main vein and margins tinged N187A, immature             lower surface; 145A, main vein and margins tinged N187A,             mature upper surface; 144A, main vein and margins tinged             N187A, mature lower surface; 145A, main vein and margins             tinged N187A.         -   Peduncles.—Strong, oval in shape, strong, 7.8 cm in length,             3 mm in diameter, held in an angle of 45°, smooth, glabrous             and moderately glossy surface, 144A in color.         -   Pedicels.—Strong, oval in shape, strong, 5 cm in length, 1             mm in diameter, held in an angle of 45°, smooth, glabrous             and moderately glossy surface, 145A in color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, 1.7 cm in length, stigma; cleft             (3-parted), 150C in color, 1.6 mm in length, style; 1.6 cm             in length, 149D in color, ovary; 143A in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; 5, anthers; basifixed and oblong in             shape, 2 mm in length, 160D in color, filaments; 0.5 mm in             length, 160D in color, pollen is low in quantity and 155A in             color.         -   Seeds.—None observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Verschercru’ as herein illustrated and described. 